A stiff challenge... and the FIRE to live it.

+ J.M.J. +

Homily Outline for the 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A

Our Gospel today on this 6th Sunday of Easter puts before us a simple and very difficult challenge, but it also speaks of the means by which we can respond to this challenge with courage and hope. The challenge is in the very first line: “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’” That is one tough line… it is easy to say that we love Jesus, and I suspect that most of us experience that movement in our hearts, at least from time to time… after all, he gave EVERYTHING for us on the Cross, and rose in victory of over sin and death. He will come to us at this very Mass Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity, under the humble appearance of bread and wine. What’s not to love! Jesus is a good, true, and beautiful Savior.

Very quickly, though, we are invited to reflect on what love really is…it is certainly not simple admiration or appreciation from a distance. What does loving Jesus look like? We will keep His commandments. He made the 10 commandments His own, but then He went farther… He upped the ante, ruling out not just murder but even hatred, ruling out not just adultery, but the lust of the heart, calling us to forgive 70 times 7 times, and even to love our enemies. These commandments are straightforward, easy to understand, but very difficult to live. Jesus did not say, “If you love me, keep some of my commandments…” He did not say, “If you love me, keep the commandments that come naturally, and you can fudge the rest of them.” He said it very simply, “Keep my commandments.” On this basis, it would be easy to get very discouraged. A careful examination of our hearts will indicate that in one way or another we have fallen short of this standard, casting the reality and authenticity of our love for Jesus, who loved us perfectly unto the Cross, very much in doubt.

That’s not the end of what Jesus tells us today, praise God! There’s more: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth… I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” Jesus knows perfectly how much we struggle to be faithful, even how much we struggle to desire faithfulness. He does not expect us to fly solo on this mission. He has sent His Spirit, the Holy Spirit of Love, Power, and Self Control, the Consoler and Fire of the Love between Father and Son. This Holy Spirit is sent to help and sustain us in the midst of this daunting invitation to love Jesus, and so to keep His commandments.

We see one aspect of this promise in our first reading. Philip is one of the first 7 deacons, and he was driven from Jerusalem with the other followers of Christ after his brother deacon Stephen was stoned to death for preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He came to Samaria, a region north of Jerusalem and proclaimed Christ. The Lord worked miracles through him, casting out unclean spirits and healing many sick people. Hearing of this missionary fruit, the apostles sent Peter and John, and they laid hands on these newly baptized Christians, who then received the Holy Spirit. Notice that the Holy Spirit came down precisely through the intercession of the apostles, Peter and John. The Holy Spirit is the soul of Christ’s Body, the Church. Now, as then, this gift comes to us through human instruments, the apostles and their successors, the bishops. The full gift of the Holy Spirit is ordinarily given at confirmation by the bishop, who stands in an unbroken line with the Twelve. The power and courage to keep Jesus’ commandments doesn’t ordinarily come to individuals in isolation, but in and through the Body of Christ, the Church.

We see this call to be filled with the Holy Spirit made even more clearly in the 2nd reading. Peter says this to us, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence…” Do we live in such a fashion that people see hope evident in our lives and ask us about it? Are we ready to explain the essential role that Faith plays in our hearts and lives? This is the challenge! On our own, we cannot do it! Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, we can transform the world.

In the years ahead, as in years and centuries gone by, our fidelity to Christ and His Church will be tested… what choice will we make? Will we call upon the Spirit’s aid and stand firm with the Gospel, with the Church, with the Truth, even when it’s inconvenient, even when it’s unpopular? Are we willing to suffer and lay down our lives for Jesus Christ, who suffered and laid down His life for us? Will we walk the broad easy downward road, going with the flow, following the teachings that are comfortable, and ignoring the rest? To walk against that current has never been easy, but we are not alone! The Gospel is bigger than our preferences and tastes, it is bigger than our strength… The Holy Spirit is fire, wind, breath, power, and life that God will pour into our hearts and lives and word and struggles. Do you love Jesus Christ who loved you unto death? Keep, then, His commandments by the power of the Holy Spirit poured out upon us through His Body the Church. Receive today His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, and be filled with fire, with love, and with truth. 

 

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